Money holders for motor vehicles



y 9 A. J. BERARDINELLI 2,896,892

MONEY HOLDERS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES I Filed Jan. 9, 1956 INVENTOR, A THONY J- BERARDI NEL L I ATTORNEY United 5.:

MONEY HOIJDERS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Anthony J. Berardinelli, Yonkers, N.Y.

Application January 9, 1956, Serial No. 558,145

2 Claims. (Cl. 248205)' The present invention relates to containers and more particularly to devices for holding coins, currency and script or coupons in motor vehicles and the like.

In recent years, the widespread prevalence of parking meters, toll roads and bridges and the like have made it increasingly necessary for the average motorist to have a supply of coins of various denominations and even a few dollar bills near at hand practically whenever and wherever he drives his automobile. The customary parking meters accept only pennies or nickels, bridge and tunnel tolls usually range between ten cents and seventyfive cents, while automobile ferries and modern superhighways frequently exact use charges in excess of one dollar. Where motorists regularly use some traflic facility, as in commuting or pursuing a fixed sales or delivery route, it is common practice to make available and advantageous for such motorists to purchase books of script, tickets. or coupons at reduced rates.

It is the general practice of highway departments, in an effort to expedite toll collection and reduce traffic obstruction caused by such collection, to postroadside sign-s on the approaches to toll collection stations informing motorists of the amount of the toll, instructing them to reduce speed, and to have their toll money ready. At the first notice of such a sign, and particularly when driving alone, the motorist starts searching his pockets for loose change, his wallet, or his coupon book, a process which takes at least one hand from the steering wheel and a large part of the drivers attention from the road at a time when distractions are most dangerous, i.e., when traific is massing and maneuvering into lanes preparatory to entering the toll stations.

If a coupon book is the object of the search, and the driver succeeds in finding and getting the book out before he is at the toll gate, the next hazardous operation usually attempted is the detachment of a single coupon while driving the car. While admittedly such procedures are not in keeping with safe and proper driving technique, it is common practice because of human nature and is fostered by traflic conditions generally encountered'at toll collection stations.

Failing to find the proper change or to detach the coupon in time, the driver must come to a complete halt at the toll house, and wait for change or detach the coupon. While this may take but a few seconds, on a crowded, high-speed highway, the toll station becomes a bottleneck which causes traflic to back up for appreciable distances, and the searching operation indulged in by drivers on the approaches thereto is the frequent cause of accidents.

Another frequent cause of inconvenience and aggravation to motorists is to locate and park in a metered parking place and then discover the lack of a coin or coins of the necessary denomination to charge the meter.

The present invention contemplates a rotary money holder, easily and quickly installed on all types of motor cars and trucks, which provides a means of keeping coins in all necessary and convenient denominations as well as paper money and/or toll coupons readily accessible to the driver of a motor vehicle, thereby eleminating a source of inconvenience to motorists and a cause of congestion and accidents at toll stations.

Accordingly, it is the general object of this invention to provide a novel holder for legal tender in various forms and denominations.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved device capable of holding a supply of coins of all denominations as well as tokens, paper money, and/or toll coupons and the like.

Still another object of the invention resides in the provision of a novel holder for legal tender which may be easily installed in practically any type of motor Vehicles, e.g., passenger cars, trucks, buses and the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel money holder for motor vehicles, the money-containing part of which may be easily demounted and removed from the motor vehicle as a precaution against possible theft.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an improved money holder which is simple and compact in construction, foolproof in operation, and which may be made commercially available at very reasonable cost.

Another general object of the invention is to reduce trafiic accidents, traffic congestion and inconvenience to motorists. at. toll collection stations.

These and other objects and advantages will be apparent to those conversant with the art from a reading of the following description and subjoined claims in conjunction with the annexed drawing in which,

Figure 1 is .a side elevation, partly in section of an em-' bodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan View of the principal structure shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the main structural component. of the invention;

Figure 4 is a perspective elevation showing details of construction of one component of the assembly shown in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of a bracket member of the assembly shown in Figure 1; and

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on line 66 of Figure 5.

With continued reference to the drawings and first, particularly to Figure 1, there is shown a fragment of an instrument panel or dashboard 10 extending the entire width of the passenger compartment and formed, in the usual manner, with an under-turned flange portion 12. The preferred installation and location of the novel money holder,-indicated generally by reference numeral 14, is by attachment under the dashboard, to the flange portion 12 by means which will hereinafter appear. However, it will be understood that the money holder may be installed in other locations according to the wishes and convenience of the driver and the structure of the vehicle and, in different locations, may be oriented in an upright, inverted or intermediate positions. Other satisfactory locations include, for example, the top or front of the dashboard, the sun visor, steering column, etc.

Still referring to Figure l, the money holder 14 is shown in upright position and comprises two principal elements, a base 16 and a body member 18. These elements have been illustrated and, for ease and inexpensiveness of manufacture preferably are fabricated of tough plastic material as by pressure molding; or like operation, but may be made of other materials and methods if desired. A

Member 18 is generally cylindrical inconfiguration and contains a plurality of circumferentially spaced vertical coin bores 20, 22', 24, 26 and 28 each slightly larger in diameter than the other and adapted freely to receive United States one cent, nickel, dime, quarter and halfdollar coins, respectively, indicated diagrammatically at 30, 32, 34, 36 and 38. The circular arrangement of the coin bores makes it possible to include all denominations of coins currently in popular use while holding the device to relatively compact dimensions. The body member, however, may be modified by the elimination of one or two bores further to reduce size or by the addition or substitution of a special diameter bore for accommodating tokens such as are frequently sold for use as legal tender at toll stations and on public conveyances.

To achieve additional compactness and reduce the weight of structural material, e.g., plastic, involved, the body member 18 is fluted around its periphery to form a series of concave areas 40 between each of the respective coin bores 20, 22, 24, 26 and 28 alternated with convex areas 42 which accommodate the bores, as best appears in Figures 2 and 3.

Inasmuch as all the coin bores are similar, varying only in diameter, only the quarter bore 26 will be described in detail. As best shown in Figure 1, bore 26 is open at its upper end and closed at the bottom as at 44 by a portion of the bottom wall of body member 18.

The upper surface of the body member 18 is formed with an arcuate lip 46 which overhangs a major portion of the upper periphery of bore 28. It will be seen from Figure 2 that lip 46 describes a circular sector materially in excess of 180 degrees and preferably approximately 270 degrees. It will further be seen that, taking, as a datum, the part of bore 26 in closest proximity to the respective convex portion 42 of the circumferential surface of body member 18 as the front, the lip 46 overhangs the rear and sides of the bore and is symmetrical with respect to a radius of the body memberdrawn through the center of the bore.

As best appears in Figure l, the respective convex portions 42 of the peripheral surface of body member 18 are cut out, as at 48, adjacent the top ends of the respective coin bores to form a coin removal space extending under the ends of lip 46.

A compression spring 48, disposed within the bore has a spring cap 50 on its upper end and, acts against bottom surface 44 to urge the coins 36 into mutual abutting relation and the top-most coin into abutment with the under side of lip 46. The number of coins of a given thickness which may be contained in a bore of given axial length is limited solely by the height of spring 48 when solid or fully compressed. Accordingly, it is preferred that a spring having as few turns, coils or loops as possible while having sufficient strength to support the weight of the coins be used in order to utilize the greatest part of the bore for holding coins.

As shown in Figure 2, body 18 is formed with an internal cavity 52 surrounded by coin bores 20 to 28 and extending to the peripheral surface of the body at the respective concave portion 40 between two adjacent coin bores, preferably bores 24 and 26. Cavity 52 is provided to receive suitably folded currency, coupons, or the like and additionally serves to decrease the quantity of plastic or other material required for construction.

The underside of the upper surface 54 of body 18 is provided with a centrally located, perpendicularly depending, internally threaded boss 56 extending into cavity 52. Another boss, 58, eccentric with respect to boss 56, is also provided within the cavity 52, being formed on the upper side of the lower surface 60 thereof. The function of bosses 56 and 58 will become apparent presently as this description proceeds.

The bottom surface 60 of body member 18 is substantially flat and is provided with a shallow, cylindrical recess 62 concentric with boss 56 and adapted to receive the upper portion of base member 16, which is discoid in configuration, as best appears in Figure 4. Base member 16 and the lower surface 60 of body member 18 are centrally apertured as at 64 and 65, respectively, to receive a cap screw 66 which extends upwardly there- 'through into cavity 52 and threads tightly into boss 56.

7 with five approximately hemispherical depressions 70 best seen in Figure 4. The locus of the centers of depressions '70 is a circle concentric with the aperture 64 in the base member and having a radius substantially equal to the eccentricity, with respect to the center line of screw 66, of. a blind vertical bore 72 in, and opening at the lower face of, boss 58. Bore 72 contains a detent ball member 74 conforming in dimension to depressions 70 and retained within the bore by means of a washer 76 suitably fixed in the lower (open) end of the bore and having an internal diameter just slightly smaller than that of the detent ball. A small, relatively soft coil spring 78 disposed in bore 72 and compressed between the closed (upper) end thereof and ball member 74 resiliently urges the ball member against the retaining washer 76. The relative dimensions of the ball and the inner diameter of washer 76 are such that a portion of the ball just slightly less than a hemisphere protrudes through the center of the washer and rides on the upper surface of base member 16 as the body member 18 is rotated and drops into respective depressions 70 as they successively move into registry with the detent ball. The depressions 70' are so spaced and located relative to the coin bores 20, 22, 24, 26 and 28 that the successive detent coaction between the ball 74 and each of the depressions upon rotation of body member 18 successively locates and maintains a respective bore in a predetermined position most accessible to the motorist, such position in the illustrated preferred installation being with the bore facing outwardly from the dash panel 10.

The circumferential surface of member 18 may be suitably inscribed to indicate the denomination of coin or currency contained in each bore or slot respectively, such inscriptions being provided in duplicate and relatively inverted at the top and bottom of member 18 so as to be readable in both upright and inverted installations of the money holder.

Body member 18 and base member 16 are jointly mounted on dashboard 14 by means of an elongate bracket member 80, preferably molded of a suitable plastic material. Bracket member 80 is formed with a flat upper surface 82 extending a major portion of its length from one end, which end is provided with an axially elongated slot 84. In the preferred installation illustrated in Figure 1, the under-turned flange 12 of dashboard 10 is drilled to receive bolt 86 which is passed through slot 84 and has a nut 88 on its threaded end. The bracket member 88 is longitudinally adjustable forthe length of slot 84 and, having been located in a convenient position, is securely fastened in place on the dashboard by tightening nut 88.

and 92, respectively, on the underside therefore. The free end of bracket member 80 is bifurcated as at 94 and reduced in width and thickness so as to provide a pair of laterally spaced tenons 96. As best shown in Figure 5, the outer longitudinal edges of tenons 96 are doublebeveled as at 98 and terminate in ears 100 at the extreme ends of the tenons. The under surface of base member 16 is provided on opposite sides with a pair of depending, parallel, inwardly curving flanges 102 adapted to slidably receive tenons 96. The length of flanges 102 is approximately equal to the distancebetween respective ears 100 and ribs 92. The body member 18 and base member The bracket member 80 is given strength and rigidity by longitudinal and lateral reinforcing ribs 16 are jointly mounted on the free end of bracket 80 by slipping the flanges 102 over tenons 96. The distance between flanges 102 is approximately equal to or very slightly less than that between the outer double-beveled edges 98 of tenons 96 so that in passing over the ears 100 the tenons are flexed inwardly toward each other, the necessary flexibility being imparted by bifurcation 94 and the inherent characteristic of the material from which bracket 80 is fabricated. When the flanges 102 have passed completely beyond inwardly of the ears 100, at which point the flanges contact ribs 92, the tenons snap back to their original position and the flanges, consequently, are locked between the ears and ribs. Thus, the money holder 14 is securely mounted on the free end of bracket 80 yet may be quickly and easily removed, to prevent theft when the vehicle is unattended, by simply pulling the holder ofi the end of the bracket, squeezing tenons 96 together, if necessary, by means of ears 100. The double-bevel edges 98 of tenons 96, permit the holder 14 to be mounted in an inverted position relative to the bracket 80. I

The operation of the device, manifest from the foregoing description is as follows:

The respective coin bores are filled by inserting coins of the corresponding denomination, one at a time, under ends of lip 46 and pushing each into the bore. The first coin in each bore engages the convex upper surface of spring cap 50 forcing the cap downwardly, compressing spring 48 in the process. Subsequent coins require the compression of spring 48 by digital pressure on the topmost coin in the bore.

Currency, coupons and the like are inserted by first folding them to proper size and slipping them into cavity 52.

For removal of coins, the body member is rotated to bring the bore of the desired denomination to the forefront. The detent construction will prevent rotation due to vibration of the motor vehicle and the necessary coin may be withdrawn with a single hand by obvious methods. Access to and removal of the contents of the cavity 52 may be achieved by like procedure. It is pointed out that, for the sake of simplicity and reduced manufacturing costs, detents are provided in the disclosed embodiment only for the coin bores but it will be appreciated that the cavity is accessible when the coin bores 26 or 28 are held in position by their detents.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is therefore to be considered illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced there-v What is claimed is:

1. A bracket for detachably mounting a holder for legal tender on a vehicle, said bracket comprising an elongated substantially flat rectangular member, one end of said member having a longitudinally extending slot for adjustably receiving fastening means to secure said member to the vehicle, the opposite end of said member being of reduced width to provide shoulders and being centrally bifurcated to provide spaced substantially parallel tenons, the outer side edge of each tenon being beveled from the upper and lower surfaces and an outwardly extending lip on the outer side edge of each tenon adjacent the outer end, the beveled portions extending between said shoulders and said lips.

2. A bracket for detachably mounting a holder for legal tender on a vehicle, said bracket comprising an elongated substantially flat rectangular member, one end of said member having means to secure said member to the vehicle, the opposite end of said member being of reduced width to provide shoulders and being centrally bifurcated to provide spaced substantially parallel tenons, the outer side edge of each tenon being bevelled from the upper and lower surfaces, and an outwardly extending lip on the outer side edge of each tenon adjacent the outer end, the bevelled portions extending between said shoulders and said lips.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 618,895 Munday Feb. 7, 1899 783,477 Strauss Feb. 28, 1905 1,567,977 Nessling Dec. 29, .1925 1,625,170 Tanner Apr. 19, 1927 1,859,352 Albee May 24, 1932 2,467,762 Marshalka Apr. 19, 1949* 2,654,376 Hultberg Oct. 6, 1953 2,829,777 Bera-rdinelli Apr. 8, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,822 Great Britain of 1855 419,529 Great Britain Nov. 12, 1934 

